On 8 May 2017, the SAGE group and the Rainbow Alliance of the College of Europe Bruges campus organised a panel discussion with three Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), Sophie IN 'T VELD, Catherine STIHLER and Ernest URTASUN.
Sophie IN 'T VELD and Ernest URTASUN are respectively substitute member and member of the FEMM Committee (on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality). All speakers are members of the Intergroup on LGBTI Rights of the European Parliament and are well-known promoters and defenders of Women’s and LGBTQ people’s rights. The discussion with the students focused on the actions of the European Union regarding the defence of these rights at European level. On these issues, the EU has a particular role to play, being a long-standing promoter of gender equality. The MEPs discussed more particularly the role of the European Parliament in promoting instruments supporting Women’s and LGBTQ rights at EU level.